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Apprenticeship project is a go!

A year ago MIWA entered into discussions with Bidvest McCarthy regarding training needs and possible solutions for its members. To date 31 companies and 88 apprentices have applied for funding through this initiative with the aim to address the artisan skills shortage in our country.
“This is a brilliant step forward for us as an industry,” says Pieter Niemand, Director of MIWA.

He explains that following a presentation that Bidvest McCarthy did for the MIWA NEC in Durban in April this year, a project plan was mapped out and agreed on. “We believe we have to mobilise the aftermarket sector of the motor industry to start with formal apprentice training. As it takes four years to train an apprentice until they qualify, the sooner we start with the formal training process, the sooner the aftermarket sector will start to contribute to addressing the skills shortage in SA.”

For many years the industry depended on the larger dealer bodies to train and qualify artisans but this has proved to no longer be sustainable. Less people are entering the industry and at the top end qualified artisans are recruited by companies abroad. “If we really want to be successful in addressing the skills deficit in SA, all stakeholders in the industry need to participate and create opportunities for youngsters who are passionate about the industry and need to be trained formally,” says Ilze Botha, Group Training Manager, Bidvest McCarthy.

Niemand says currently there are many people who have worked in the industry for many years who have not had the opportunity to get their formal trade certificate. “We are looking at a culture change in the industry where formal training becomes the norm. This will improve the industry’s credibility and promote that being a qualified artisan is a professional career which in turn will assist in attracting youngsters to the industry.”

The project plan roll-out started with presentations at the regional AGMs from May to September. MIWA members were informed about the benefits of apprentice training and the funding opportunities available through merSETA (in the form of Discretionary grants) and SARS (through learnership tax rebates).

“Further to just being a training provider and trade test centres through our national Bidvest Automotive Artisan Academies (Gauteng, Kwazulu-Natal and Western Cape), the added benefit we offer is assistance with administration, facilitating workplace approval and current funding opportunities available through merSETA,” explains Botha.

At the beginning of October MIWA members where then asked to indicate their interest in the project. “We received just over 100 member companies indicating their interest. A hugely positive response,” says Niemand.

Communication followed outlining the documentation required to participate in the project and the process to be followed. Botha says it became apparent that many of the member companies needed guidance in the following four areas:
• being informed of how apprenticeships work,
• what is expected and required from them,
• understanding the funding and tax models, and
• assistance with current employees who have been in the trade for many years and require formal qualifications.

This naturally lead to discussions around the new ARPL (Artisan Recognition of Prior Learning) process that came into effect on 18 October 2017 and further assistance to members outside of the MIWA Apprenticeship project.

“We provided assistance to the companies and to date have 31 companies who have submitted the initial funding request documents and are now formally part of the project. We have 88 apprentices that have applied for funding split into 67 from the motor trade, 13 from the diesel trade and 7 automotive electricians,” says Botha. Split by region there are 33 in Gauteng, 23 in KwaZulu-Natal and 32 in the Western Cape. “We need to bear in mind that these numbers will change as funding will be either approved or declined, workplace approvals will be approved or declined and so on.”

The total value of the project in respect of discretionary grant funding is approximately R13 million.

Once the project implementation is finalised and the training can commence, the next phase of the project will kick off. Botha says this will include revisiting the other ±70 companies who indicated their interest but who have not continued with the process. “There could be various reasons for why they haven’t continued in the process such as the time given to submit the documentation to meet the merSETA project deadline was not sufficient or some of the potential candidates did not meet the requirements in regards to age (funding) and qualifications (trade test). Discussions will follow with these members and solutions recommended and offered,” she says.

Niemand believes that although over 100 responses received is a great start, with over 2500 members a part of MIWA there is still a lot of work to be done. “I want to encourage all of you, our members, to consider getting involved in the formal training of apprentices. We have to start making a difference in our industry and this a great way to do it,” he concludes.